# US 12,761,698 B2 · Keyboard switch design for ultrathin computing devices

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- Number: US 12,761,698 B2
- Document ID: US12761698B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/344,061
- Filed: 2023-06-29
- Published: 2025-01-02
- Granted: 2026-10-13
- Earliest claimed: 2023-06-29
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Applicants: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Juha T. Paavola; Sami M. Heinisuo; Kari Pekka Johannes Mansukoski; Shawn S. McEuen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12761698B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/1662: {Details related to the integrated keyboard}
- H01H 13/7073: characterised by springs, e.g. Euler springs
- H01H 13/785: characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00)

## Abstract

In one embodiment, a keyboard includes keys disposed in respective holes of a housing, a set of first conductive pads coupled to respective keys, and a set of second conductive pads coupled to surfaces of the housing defining respective holes. The keys are configured such that the first conductive pad of a key is not in contact with a second conductive pad of a hole corresponding to the key when the key is in a first position (e.g., not actuated), and the first conductive pad of the key is in contact with the second conductive pad of the hole corresponding to the key when the key is in a second position (e.g., actuated).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising:
a housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion defining a plurality of openings;
a plurality of keys, each key disposed in a respective opening in the upper portion of the housing;
a set of first conductive pads, each first conductive pad coupled to a respective key; and
a set of second conductive pads, each second conductive pad coupled to a surface of the housing defining a respective opening in the upper portion;
wherein a first conductive pad of a key is not in contact with a second conductive pad of a hole corresponding to the key when the key is in a first position, and the first conductive pad of the key is in contact with the second conductive pad of the hole corresponding to the key when the key is in a second position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second position corresponds to actuation of the key.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surfaces of the housing on which the second conductive pads are coupled are substantially parallel to the surfaces of the key on which the first conductive pads are coupled.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each key comprises a portion extending away from a main body of the key and disposed under an overhanging portion of the housing that at least partially defines the opening, and wherein the first conductive pad is coupled to the portion of the key extending away from the main body of the key.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first conductive pad is on a lower surface of the key and each second conductive pad is on a surface of the housing disposed under the key.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each key is coupled to a spring-like mechanism and to a mechanical frame within the housing.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the spring-like mechanism is a scissor-switch mechanism.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising conductive traces coupled to the housing and to the second conductive pads.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the conductive traces comprise first traces arranged in rows and second traces arranged in columns, wherein the first traces and second traces are coupled to one another by second conductive pads at intersections of the rows and columns.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising circuitry to apply an electrical signal to the first traces and detect actuation of the plurality of keys based on signals received via the second traces.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising circuitry to apply an electrical signal to the second traces and detect actuation of the plurality of keys based on signals received via the first traces.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein apparatus is a laptop computing device, the housing is a base portion of the laptop computing device, and the upper portion of the housing defining the openings is a C cover of the base.

### Claim 13

A computing device comprising:
a lid; and
a base coupled to the lid, the base comprising:
a lower housing portion;
an upper housing portion coupled to the lower housing portion, the upper housing portion defining a set of openings; and
a set of keys, each key disposed in a respective opening of the upper housing portion;
wherein each key comprises a first conductive pad coupled to a bottom surface of the key, wherein the upper housing portion comprises a second conductive pad on a surface defining each respective opening, and the set of keys are arranged such that the first conductive pad of the key contacts a corresponding second conductive pad when the key is actuated.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The computing device of claim 13, wherein each key comprises a portion extending away from a main body of the key and disposed under an overhanging portion of the housing that at least partially defines the opening, and wherein the first conductive pad is coupled to the portion of the key extending away from the main body of the key.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The computing device of claim 13, wherein each first conductive pad is on a lower surface of the key and each second conductive pad is on a surface of the housing disposed under the key.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The computing device of claim 13, further comprising:
conductive traces coupled to the upper housing and to the second conductive pads; and
circuitry to apply electrical signals to a first subset of the conductive traces and detect actuation of keys based on electrical signals received via a second subset of the conductive traces.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The computing device of claim 16, wherein the conductive traces comprise first traces arranged in rows and second traces arranged in columns, wherein the first traces and second traces are coupled to one another by second conductive pads at intersections of the rows and columns.

### Claim 18

A system comprising:
a keyboard comprising:
a housing comprising an upper portion and a lower portion;
conductive traces coupled to a surface of the upper portion of the housing; and
a set of keys, each key comprising a conductive pad coupled thereto;
wherein actuation of a particular key causes the conductive pad coupled to the particular key to be in electrical connection with a conductive trace coupled to the upper portion of the housing; and
circuitry coupled to the keyboard, the circuitry to receive signals from the conductive traces of the housing based on actuation of a key.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein each key comprises a portion extending away from a main body of the key and disposed under an overhanging portion of the housing that at least partially defines an opening in which the key is positioned, and wherein the conductive pad of the key is coupled to the portion of the key extending away from the main body of the key.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The system of claim 18, wherein each conductive pad is on a lower surface of the key and the upper portion of the housing comprises a surface disposed under the key that has a conductive pad disposed thereon that is connected to a conductive trace.